Sunbeam 408441 61040 Timer, 60 Minutes

Bought to use as a shower timer so I don't space out and waste water. Good size, fits in the palm of my hand. The timing mechanism itself is the only metal part of the whole thing, the rest is plastic. One might say it feels flimsy, but for what it's meant to do, sit in a kitchen (or on my toilet tank) it's perfectly adequate. I don't feel like it's going to break in my hand, and the dial gives decent resistance when I rotate it, which tells me the inner workings are robust. Maybe if you have children or use it constantly you'll feel differently, but for once or twice daily use it's fine.I've noticed some reviews posted that the ring is quiet or too short. I did feel this way at first, but I think it has a short 5 minute notification before the main ring, and also the packaging says to turn the timer past 45 minutes before setting to desired time for best ring. There is a huge difference when I do this. By following the packages directions there will be a nice 3-5 second, adequately loud ring. It more than adequate to hear while I'm in the shower, and sometimes I'm even worried I'll be bothering my roommate if it's earlier in the morning.Overall I'm happy with this purchase. It does just what I need it to, ticks nice and loud, and rings nice and loud. Even though it's plastic it still feels durable enough for what it is, especially at this price.

Good all around. Thanks!

I tested the timer when I got it to make sure it worked OK. The timer ran down to zero but I never heard the alarm at the end. I tried again and no alarm. I tried again and this time I heard the alarm but it was very soft. Did it ring before but I just didn't hear it? I tried again and this time I was sure that it ran down to zero with no alarm whosoever. Each time I turned the dial far enough so that the alarm should have sounded. What good is an alarm that sometimes sounds and other times doesn't. Even when it sounds it has a very low volume. Is this typical of this product or a defect in the timer? I don't know but I returned the timer and don't plan get another one. My family had one of these when I was growing up and it worked wihout any problems. What changed?

Very handy timer, easy to use and move between locations. Only drawbacks are the way it keeps ticking after it rings, and the fragility when handled by small children. Still, if it quits, I know I'll try to find it to buy again.

In 2017, we purchased three or four other timers together to do a real comparison test, given how flaky it seemed timers had become after we had several store bought timers flake out within a few months of purchase. This is the only one that lasted more than a year… and it is still going after daily use in our kitchen! So, would we purchase another one? We sure would if we needed to… but we don't yet! (I'm about to write the reviews for the other timers that flunked, in fact. Ugh. We even had one that was shaped like a lemon—and it was…) Best to go with an old and well tested design like this Sunbeam timer. I hope they continue to "still make it like they used to"!Although the ringer is loud, and it appears to be a tank of a timer, it's not highly accurate as the mechanism is a cheaper coiled steel spring type. In anecdotal comparison with smarthphones, clocks, and microwave timers, it appears to be accurate to about plus/minus 10% in minutes, good enough for oven cooking. Further, as the documentation states, you can't use it for timing something for only 5 minutes as the spring mechanism does not have enough tension if you only wind it to that low a setting. As per the instructions, I have religiously wound it all the way and then adjusted the time down to the time target I want the alarm to ring at and this has always worked (if you remember to bring it to full tension first) for any time set from 10 minutes and above. Basically, you would not want to use this timer if you are trying to do anything rigorously scientific, nor can you use it reliably to measure time, particularly for short intervals below 10 minutes. This does what it is supposed to do as a good oven or simmering timer and is not for timing quick syrups, three minute eggs, etc.

Our original Sunbeam timer was identical in appearance and lasted over 10 years. It was still going strong when I elected to get this new one, because the numbers had basically worn off on the old one. 18 months later I've got to get another cuz this one just stops working. Made in China. Go figure

This basic timer has been around since the beginning of timer. It’s simple, sturdy and quietly ticks away the minutes. Turning the dial past 45 minutes and then bringing it back to the time you need to set will insure a longer and hence louder ring when time’s up.